PADRES NOTES: Street backs up Black's confidence

SAN DIEGO ---- Padres manager Bud Black has been playing mix and match with his bullpen lately.

Last week in Arizona, Black used five pitchers in the ninth inning to preserve a win.

So when closer Huston Street got in trouble in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers ---- facing left-handed-hitting Andre Ethier with runners on first and third base and one out while protecting a one-run lead ---- everyone expected Black to pop out of the dugout and make a pitching change.

"I thought about it," Black said. "I looked out to the bullpen. But at some time, there has to be a trust factor. You have to show you trust a player. I've seen Huston enough to know he could make pitches.

"There was no doubt I was leaving him in."

Street made great pitches to strike out Ethier. Then he induced a fly ball to right field by Matt Kemp to earn his 23rd save in 23 chances.

Street, however, didn't know that he was staying in the game.

"I saw Tommy Layne warming up in the bullpen and wasn't sure what Buddy would do," Street said. "I thought he might come get me.

"But he stuck with me, and I appreciate that. That's the kind of manager you want to play for."

Rotation update

Black said the starting rotation will probably remain the same for the season's final seven games.

Casey Kelly will start Thursday night against the Dodgers, followed by Andrew Werner, Eric Stults and Edinson Volquez ---- the latter three against the Giants.

Clayton Richard, Kelly and Werner are on track to start the season-ending series in Milwaukee.

Gonzo in Japan

Infielder Edgar Gonzalez, who played for the Padres in 2008-09, is playing for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

The team is 83-40 and has clinched the Central Division championship and a spot in the playoffs.

Gonzalez, the brother of Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, is hitting .255 with 11 homers and 51 RBIs.

Et cetera

Chase Headley
is hitting .303 (80-for-264) since the All-Star break and is hitting .308 (20-for-65) against the Dodgers. ...
Yasmani Grandal
is hitting .333 (12-for-36) over his last 11 games. ... The Dodgers are now 40-40 on the road this season. ...
Hanley Ramirez
, who had two hits Wednesday, is hitting .333 (12-for-36) against the Padres this season. ...
Aaron Harang
, who pitched for the Padres last season, was the winner Wednesday. He's 2-1 against the Padres in six starts in 2012. ...
Nick Punto
had three hits and scored four runs.